Dual Connectivity Signaling for Split Control and User Planes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing HetNet solutions fail to address the denser deployment of indoor/outdoor small cells with/without macro coverage, lacking teachings on dual connectivity where User Equipment (UE) is simultaneously connected to at least two serving cells controlled by different eNodeBs, and do not enhance spectral efficiency or improve radio resource management.

Innovation Solution

Implementing physical layer signaling mechanisms for dual connectivity, allowing a UE to be connected to two or more eNodeBs through a latency- and capacity-constrained backhaul link, with separate control and user planes, independent channel configurations, and coordinated uplink power control to manage radio resources from multiple eNodeBs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a UE is simultaneously connected to multiple eNodeBs in dense small cell deployments, then spectral efficiency and radio resource management are improved, but signaling overhead and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control plane and user plane functions between master eNodeB and secondary eNodeB. The master eNodeB handles control plane signaling while secondary eNodeBs focus on user plane data transmission, reducing signaling overhead by eliminating redundant control messages between the UE and multiple eNodeBs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having each eNodeB independently manage its own connections to UEs, the patent inverts the approach by having a master eNodeB centrally manage control plane functions for multiple secondary eNodeBs. This centralization reduces the total signaling overhead by consolidating control messages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If a UE is simultaneously connected to multiple eNodeBs, then handover efficiency is enhanced, but device complexity and system management difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover efficiencyVSAvoidsystem management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the dual connectivity management into distinct segments: master eNodeB handles control plane functions including handover decision-making, while secondary eNodeBs handle user plane data transmission. This segmentation simplifies system management by clearly defining roles and reducing management complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The master eNodeB acts as an intermediary between the UE and secondary eNodeBs. It receives control plane signaling from the UE and coordinates with secondary eNodeBs for user plane management, thereby simplifying the overall system management architecture and reducing the complexity of managing multiple direct connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If separate control and user planes are implemented for dual connectivity, then radio resource management is optimized, but protocol complexity and implementation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradio resource management efficiencyVSAvoidprotocol complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the protocol stack into separate control plane and user plane protocols. The control plane protocol handles signaling and coordination between master eNodeB and secondary eNodeBs, while the user plane protocol handles data transmission. This segmentation optimizes radio resource management by allowing independent optimization of each protocol while managing complexity through clear separation of concerns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20260019201A1Methods and apparatus for dual connectivity operation in a wireless communication network

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC

AI summary

Dual-connectivity for the User Equipment (UE) in a cellular network is performed by monitoring a plurality of cells. During dual-connectivity, the UE may be simultaneously connected to one serving cell for the Control Plane (C-plane) and to another serving cell, controlled by a different eNodeB, for the User Plane (U-plane). In another embodiment, the dual-connected UE monitors a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) from the first eNB and monitors an EPDCCH from the second eNB.